Dec. 31, 2000: "Defense wins championships," Michael McCrary crows as the Ravens defeat the visiting Denver Broncos, 21-3, in an AFC wild-card game. McCrary, a defensive end, sacks the quarterback three times while Baltimore allows the Broncos offense, ranked second in the NFL, to cross midfield just once. The victory is the eighth in a row for the streaking Ravens (13-4).

Dec. 30, 1992:Maryland upsets top-ranked and previously undefeated Tennessee in women's basketball, 77-72, in College Park. It's the seventh victory in eight games for coach Chris Weller's Terps, who get 20 points from center Jessie Hicks and 17 from forward Bonnie Rimkus.

Jan. 5, 1986:David Robinson, Navy's 6-foot-11 All America center, scores 21 points, gets 14 rebounds and blocks 14 shots — the latter an NCAA Division I record — in a 76-61 victory over UNC Wilmington. It's the eighth win against three losses for the Midshipmen.

Jan. 2, 1972: "I can't believe it," Colts defensive end Bubba Smith says after Baltimore's 21-0 loss to the Miami Dolphins in the AFC title game at the Orange Bowl. Johnny Unitas throws three interceptions and Jim O'Brien misses three field-goal attempts, including one that's blocked, as the defending Super Bowl champions are shut out for the first time in 81 games.

Jan. 3, 1971: Norm Bulaich rushes for two touchdowns and Ray Perkins scores on a 68-yard pass from Johnny Unitas as the Colts defeat the Oakland Raiders, 27-17, for the AFC championship at Memorial Stadium. Next up: a Super Bowl V date with the Dallas Cowboys.

Jan. 3, 1965:Despite 53 points from Wilt Chamberlain, the San Francisco Warriors lose, 142-132, to the Bullets before an announced 1,784 at the Civic Center. Baltimore's Bailey Howell hits all 14 of his field-goal attempts and scores 37 points, while guard Don Ohl adds 35 for the third-place Bullets.

Jan. 1, 1907: "Get in and bet a wad on me," Baltimore's Joe Gans urges boxing fans, before taking the ring and defending his world light heavyweight championship with an eighth-round knockout of Kid Herman in Tonopah, Nev. Before the fight, the 32-year-old Gans receives a telegram from his mother that reads, "Bring home the bacon." A right hook to Herman's jaw earns the champ a $12,000 payday.

Birthday

Jan. 2, 1926:Gino Marchetti, the Colts' Hall of Fame defensive end and one of the most feared pass rushers in NFL history.